Air-valve.



M. McCRACKEN-.

AIR VALVE.

'APPucATloN FILED was. 1916.

n6 1 9 1 2 M. A M m cm P Fig:

hum/wa AIR-VALVE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 2, 1913.

Application filed August s, 1916. Serial No. 112,952.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, MARK McORAoKEN, a subject of the King of England, residing 1n 7 the city of Portland, county ofMultnomah,

and State of Oregon, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Air-Valves, of which the following is a specification;

My invention relates to air valves and more particularly to a device adapted to be connected on to a water main for the purpose of permitting the air to pass rapidly out ofthe water main. as it is being filled with water, and to be automatically closed by the water when the water enters the valve, thus preventing water from escaping through the air valve.

Among the salient objects of my invention are,-to provide a device of the character referred to which shall be extremely simple and economical to manufacture and install, and which shall operate automatically to al low the air to pass out as a water main is being filled, and then to be closed by the water entering the air valve, whereby to prevent the water from escaping through the air valve, to provide in a device of the character referred to a valve construction which will open automatically, in easethe water main should break, so as to allow air to rush in through the air valve in such quantity as will fill the pipe and. prevent a collapse thereof by reason of the vacuum effect which would otherwise be produced; to provide in a device of the character referred to a con struction in which the float which operates the valve is shielded against the direct inflow of air and water from the water main, thus preventing air passing through the casing from lifting said float, so as to close the valve-controlled outlet, as some times.

is the case where the inrushing air and water into the air valve casing directly strikes the float; to provide in a device of the character referred to means for shielding the valve controlling the outlet from said casing, whereby it can not be directly closed by the air and water passing through said casing. Other objects and. advantages will be apparent from the illustration of the preferred form of my invention.

In order that others may understand my invention clearly, I have illustrated the pre ferred form thereof in the accompanying sheet of drawings, which I will now describe. a a a Figure 1 is a top l View gh Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view thereof taken on line 2-2 of Fig. 1; and

Fig. 3 is a horizontal sectional view thereof taken on line 33 of Fig. 2.

Referring now more in detail to my invention, as here illustrated, 1 designates an air valve casing adapted to be attached, as at 2, to a water main M. Formed in the bottom of the casing 1, above the inlet thereto, is a web, or shield, 3, leaving the annular passageways 4-4:, around the opposite sides thereof, as clearly shown in Fig. 3, and as indicated in dotted lines of Fig. 1. The top 5, of the casing is also provided with an outlet 6, with a valve member 7, resting upon a fixed supporting portion of said top, and in such manner as not to be engaged on its under side by air and water passing out through the outlet 6. Said valve member 7, is provided with a stem 8, which projects down through the top 5, as at 8, and at its upper end said stem moves through a skeleton 9, the lower portion 10, of which screws into a threaded extension 11, formed on said top 5. Mounted in the side of said casing 1, is an air cock12, with an operating stem 18, upon the end ofwhich is mounted a float 1 1, which float, when in its lower position, rests upon the web 3, and in a position where it is not affected by the force of the inrushing air, and is only raised by a and lifts the valve member 7, into engage ment with its seat 7, thus closing the outlet through the passage 6. The movement of the float also closes the air cook 12. Thus it will be seen that air, no matter with what force, can pass through the casing without striking and moving the float 14, and also without striking and closing the valve member 7 the air being allowed to es cape freely through the outlet 6, and also through the air cock12. As soon as water enters the casing it lifts the float 14:, and thereby closes the cock 12, and also the valve 7. Should the water main break at any point so that the water runs out of the same, the float 14, will drop as soon as the water passes out of the casing l, which will not only 0 en the air cook 12, but will allow the valve to be opened by gravity and b the inrushing air, whereby air will be acf mitted in such quantity as to fill the main as the water runs out of the same at the break, thus preventing the creation of a vacuum within the water main and cause the collapse thereof.

I am aware that slight changes can be made in my invention as here illustrated without departing from the spirit thereof, and I do not, therefore, limit the invention to these details, except as I may be limited by the hereto appended. claims.

'I claim:

1. An air valve device of the character referred to comprising in combination a casing having an inlet, a shield therein, above said inlet, with passageway around the edge of. said shield, a float supported above said shield and shielded against inflowing water, an air valve with which said float is. connected and adapted to be closed by said float when raised, a valve support in the upper part of said casing with a passagetherearound, a valve seated upon said support and shielded from air and water passing said support, a valve seat above said valve, and means on said valve positioned to be engaged by said float when raised to lift said valve into said valve seat, for the purpose indicated.

2. An air valve for water mains comprising a casing adapted to be attached to a water main with a communicating passageway therebetween, a shield in said casing above said inlet passageway, an air cock, a float connected with said air cock for operating the same, said float being adapted to rest above said shield, whereby it is shielded against the direct force of in'rushing water, a valve support in the upper side of said casing with an outlet therearound, a valve supported upon said support and adapted to be lifted to close said outlet, and means on said valve adapted to be engaged by said float when the latter is floated to the top of said casing, whereby said float closes saidv valve and said air cock, substantially as described.

3. An air valve for water mains comprising a casing adapted to be. attached to said water main with a communicating passageway therebetween, an air cock within said casing for controlling an outlet througl'i the side thereof, a float with float arm for controlling said air cock, anoutlet in the top of said casing with a valve-seat therearound, fixed supporting means below said valve. seat at a space therefrom, a valve seated upon said fixed supporting means and adapted to be raised into engagement with said valve-seat, whereby to close said outlet, said valve having a valve stem, the lower end of which projects throiigh said fixed supporting means, whereby to be. engaged and lifted by said float, and means within said casing under said float for supporting the same and for preventing inrushing air and water from directly striking and raising the same, substantially as described.

Signed at Portland, Multnomah county, Oregon, this 27th day of July, 1916-.

MARK MGCRACKEN.

In presence of-- J. G. SIMMONS, J. C; STRENG'.

flopien at this patent may be obtained for: five cents each, by addressing the: Commissioner of Eat-eats,

Washington, D. G. 

